London First, the capital’s leading business campaign group, has announced that Richard Iferenta has joined its board with immediate effect.
Richard will join other senior business leaders on the board at a critical time for the capital, helping to ensure the business group has maximum impact as the city recovers from COVID-19. He joins other Board members, including former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Dame Nicola Brewer, Sir Ian Powell, Chairman of Capita plc, Mark Reynolds, Chief Executive, Mace, and Angela Jain, MD, ITV Studios Entertainment.
Richard has spent the last 20 years at KPMG, where he heads the Financial Services Indirect Tax Practice and advises clients in the financial services sector. He engages and consults with UK tax authorities, HM Treasury, and the European Commission on the impact of VAT legislation and policy on the financial services sector. He previously headed up KPMG’s Challenger Banking practice supporting challenger banks with navigating the tax and regulatory arrangements in place. A strong champion for mentoring and coaching young black people, for the last four and a half years, Richard has also chaired the Race Diversity Board for Business in the Community, is the partner sponsor for the Afro-Caribbean Network and set up the Black Leaders Network.
Paul Drechsler, Chair of London First, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Richard to the London First Board.
“Richard’s experience will be invaluable for the organisation as we work to ensure London recovers from COVID-19, and remain the best city in the world in which to invest, work, live and enjoy.”
“Richard is a passionate champion of social mobility and inclusion, hugely important issues for London First and the success of our capital.”
Richard Iferenta added:
“I am delighted to be joining the Board of London First at a critical time for the capital, as it adapts to the twin challenges of changing working patterns and finding its place in a post-pandemic world after Brexit.
“I am excited about London First’s agenda with its clear focus on making sure the city remains at the top of the global charts. That means ensuring it has the right infrastructure, skills and trade policies in place to drive the UK’s recovery. I look forward to playing my part in the growth agenda for London.”
Formed in the 1990s, London First has been at the forefront of identifying solutions to the capital’s challenges. It was instrumental in creating the role of Mayor of London and the capital’s first Chief Digital Officer, as well as establishing the educational charity Teach First. More recently, London First has set out the steps needed to support the recovery and to get people back onto public transport. The organisation holds seats on both the Mayor’s Recovery Board and the Government’s Transition Board, to co-ordinate London’s immediate response as it emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown, and to help shape the economic recovery for the long term.
